Florida Health in Collier County Offering Free Screenings 

Naples, Fla.— Florida is a mosaic of diverse cultures; however, Blacks — comprising African Americans, Haitians, and other people of the Caribbean — account for roughly half of all HIV/AIDS cases in the state, even though they make up only 16% of Florida’s population. In fact, an estimated 1 in 47 black Floridians have HIV/AIDS, compared with 1 in 176 Hispanics and 1 in 346 whites, according to the Florida Department of Health. As of December 31^st, 2016, 1,723 residents of Collier County have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and 42% of these men, women, and children are Black.

The second week of February 2017, Collier County will respond to the impact of HIV and AIDS on our Black communities in observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), a nationwide mobilization effort designed to encourage Black Americans across the United States to get educated, get tested, get treated, and get involved with HIV/AIDS, as it continues to devastate Black communities. The Florida Department of Health in Collier County and the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida are proud to sponsor the following testing events to celebrate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:

*All sites will be offering free rapid HIV testing with same day results.

For more information about these events, please contact:

DOH-Collier Naples: 3339 East Tamiami Trail, Building H. (239) 252-8593.

Marion E. Fether Medical Center (Healthcare Network of SWFL): 1454 Madison Ave, Immokalee, (239) 658-3000

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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